Explore Western Australia
The beautiful Coral Coast stretches from Shark Bay, an ecological and evolutionary hot spot of the highest order, up to the arid spike of land on which Exmouth and Coral Bay rest. People head here to see the stunning 260km Ningaloo Reef that fringes the western edge of the peninsula, never more than 7km offshore. In some areas, such as the coastal campsites of Cape Range National Park, the reef is accessible right off the beach. Increasing numbers head to the tiny, laid-back resort of Coral Bay at the southern end of the reef, rather than basing themselves in sterile Exmouth, near the tip of the peninsula.
Aside from viewing the reef, people flock here for the rare opportunity to swim with the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, which feeds in the area between April and July each year. In between Shark Bay and Exmouth is Carnarvon, a good base for exploring the exhilarating 4WD track north to Gnaraloo Station, past wild beaches and tumultuous seas.
Read More- Shark Bay
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Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park
Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park
About 20km beyond the turtle centre is the entrance station for Cape Range National Park and the adjoining Ningaloo Marine Park. The proximity of the continental shelf gives this marine park a stunning variety of marine life: over 500 species of fish and 250 species of coral have been recorded here, attracting migrating whales and whale sharks.
Moving south from the Cape Range park entrance a sublime day can be had beach-hopping between deserted beaches and swimming in pristine lagoons. There’s superb snorkelling at sheltered Lakeside and in Turquoise Bay, where the famous drift snorkel floats you across 200m of colourful coral: drop your clothes by the sandbar, enter the water at the southern end of the beach and hop out in time to pick up your clothes – this should only be attempted at low- to mid-tide due to the strong currents. The pick of the snorkelling sites is at Oyster Stacks just to the south, where legions of colourful fish huddle under the archways created by the four shelly protrusions – the coral is so close to the surface here that you can only snorkel at high tide.
Numerous idyllic camping spots line the coast: the best are at Osprey Bay, with swimming in the milky waters of adjacent Sandy Bay and good vantage points for sunsets or whale-watching.
The final stop in the park for most will be Yardie Creek, approximately 91km in total from Exmouth without detours. Those with 4WDs can cross the creek at low tide with reduced tyre pressure and fingers crossed, before continuing south past Ningaloo Homestead, enjoying beach camping and picnics all the way to Coral Bay, a drive that takes about a day.
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Coral Bay
Coral Bay
Beautiful CORAL BAY is an idyllic spot from which to enjoy Ningaloo Reef. The tiny, laid-back community stretches for little more than 200m along each side of the main road and the stunning sandy beach is the town’s defining feature. At the northern end of the beach, reef sharks gather in season (April–July) at Point Maud, while just south of the beach past the lookout there’s good snorkelling at Purdy Point and beach-lounging spots on Paradise Beach. Hot salty bore water and a lack of available land have kept tourism fairly low-key, and the resort remains little more than a couple of caravan parks which between them own all the associated shops, services and cafés. You can have fun in Coral Bay just hanging out, strolling down the white sand and having an occasional dip, but there are enough tours and activities, from sea kayaking to quad biking, to keep more active sorts occupied for weeks.
